Puffin chicks face 'death trap' on roads, conservationists warn

BirdLife Iceland has issued an urgent appeal to drivers traveling along the South Coast road, particularly between Mýrdal and Eyjafjöll, to exercise extreme caution as the puffin chick season is underway. The organization highlights that young puffins, often described as plump and heavy from successful parental feeding, may have wings not yet strong enough for sustained flight.

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Often they are quite plump and heavy if the parents have succeeded well in feeding them and then the wings are not quite strong enough to carry them in flight.

While most chicks manage to reach the sea on their own within a few days, strengthening their wings and learning to fly, many encounter "novel and unnatural obstacles." These include ditches, fences, and, most critically, fast-moving vehicle traffic. Some chicks unfortunately land on paved roads, placing them in a life-threatening situation where they risk being hit by cars.

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Unfortunately, they often encounter novel and unnatural obstacles such as ditches, fences, and not least fast car traffic. Some puffin chicks unfortunately end up on paved roads which puts them in considerable danger as they risk cars driving over them.

The organization emphasizes that landing on a road is a "complete death trap" for these young birds. Unlike adult seabirds, puffin chicks cannot fly away when a vehicle approaches, leading drivers to mistakenly believe they are seeing gulls. These chicks, often too heavy to fly, may need the help of attentive drivers to safely reach the water.

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Landing on the road is a complete death trap for the puffin chicks.

BirdLife Iceland specifically points to the Suðurlandsvegur road in the Mýrdal and Eyjafjöll areas as a high-risk zone due to the significant number of puffins present. The appeal is for drivers to be mindful and, if necessary, provide assistance to help the chicks reach the ocean.

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But the puffin chicks cannot fly because they are often too heavy. These puffins may then need the consideration of drivers and even assistance to get to the sea.